Free Daddy Dearest by Heather Hydrick Page B

be home in time to
watch the The College World Series and the Yankees games with us.
You know the Gamecocks are going for a back to back CWS win, daddy
you can’t miss that! It’s just not baseball without you daddy.
Please be careful and we will see you soon. WE LOVE YOU! – Love,
Mommy, Anthony, and Natali.” “Okay mommy, I’m done with the
letter.” I said as she dried her hands from washing dishes.
“Alright then, if you two will get your shoes on we will take them
to the post office now.” Anthony and I got our shoes on and we went
out the door.
    We only live about ten minutes from the post
office. We write daddy a letter once a week. I enjoy writing daddy
letters, but I hope there comes a day when I won’t have to write
daddy dearest anymore. A day when he will be home safe with us, and
won’t have to go back overseas. We arrive at the post office. Every
time we first walk in, the room smells of clean paper and packing
material. Since we write daddy letters every week and take them to
the post office, we know the people that work there really well.
“Hey Robbie!” I say as I run up to him and give him a hug. Robbie
is nineteen and his parents have been friends with mom and dad for
years. “Hey, How’s my favorite army brat?” he says while looking at
me with his goofy grin. “I’m fine, and you know I’m not a brat
Robbie!” “Yeah, sure” he says as he rolls his eyes. He turns to
Anthony and says “ Hey army boy, have you been keeping your sister
straight?” “I’ve been trying to Robbie.” He says back. I looked at
him with my “you’re going to get it later” face. He’s been trying
to keep me straight? I think it’s the other way around…. Anthony
isn’t even straight! Although I’m not exactly a perfect line
either. “So Robbie, we have another letter to Nathan for you to
send” my mother said with a smile. “I’ll take care of that right
now for you Mrs. Turner” Robbie said, again with his goofy grin. We
got the letter stamped, sealed, and I let Anthony drop it in the
mail drop off box, since I wrote it. Once Anthony dropped it in the
drop box, we said bye to Robbie, and left for home.
    The next day, mom got a call from daddy. She
sounded excited as she was talking. Anthony and I were sitting in
the back seat wondering what they were talking about. “Kids, your
father has fantastic news for you both!” mama said. Mom handed us
the phone from the front seat. I put the phone on speaker so
Anthony and I could talk to him at the same time. “Hello?” we both
said at the same time. “Hey kids! How are you both?” daddy
responded. “ We are fine daddy, but I’m dying to know, what is the
good news?” Anthony said in an excited voice. “Kids, I get to come
home in four days.” “YAY!” Anthony and I said at the same time.
“Daddy I’m so glad and I can’t wait to see you!” I said. “I can’t
wait to see you both either darling. I have to go now so I can get
everything together. I love you and I will see you all very soon.
“Wait daddy, we sent you a letter, it should be there before you
leave though.” I said. “Ok darling, I’ll have it when I come home”
“ Ok daddy. We love you!” “I love you too sweetie. Bye now” “Bye
daddy.”

Chapter 5: The Call
    It had been eight days since we sent the
letter. Seven days since the call from dad. I was upstairs in my
room talking to Anthony when the phone rang downstairs. Anthony and
I got very quiet. We heard mom talking, but in a low voice. All we
heard her say clearly was “Yes I will Nathan. I love you too honey.
Bye” Anthony and I ran downstairs to see who it was. “Mama, was
that daddy?” Anthony said in a cheerful voice. “Yes sweetie it
was.” She said. “Is he ok mama? What did he say?” I asked. “ He
said that he was fine.” She paused for a moment. “Darlings, your
father said that his assignment had been extended two more weeks,
and then he will be able to come home. “Mama I